AMHERST - Working on fundamentals while implementing their offence and defence for the past month, the Amherst Vikings are opening their basketball season on the road this weekend.
Throughout the past five years, the Vikings have been successful, registering 17 tournament wins and two provincial Division 2 championships.
Back for his sixth season as head coach is Reg Caulfield, who will be working with assistant coaches Robert Hunter, Thomas Skabar and Alex Brown.
"This team is comprised of coach's players as they love to be in the gym, have a great attitude and want to reach their full potential," Caulfield said.
"They're not afraid of hard work and love to compete. It would be nice to see such a quality group of players accomplish their objective of winning a provincial championship in March."
The team will see four returning starters from last year's team - Ryan Budd, co-captain Richard Hope, co-captain Kevin Lepage, and Sammy Mohammad.
Caulfield said the remaining players are young and inexperienced, but will progress as they get deeper into their schedule.
"With game experience and competing at a higher tempo, they will be ready to compete come March at the provincial championship," he said.
Making up the rest of the team are C.J. Curtis, Matt Thorne, David Manuele, Pat Neufeld, Josh Lee, Dylan Rushton, Shaddy Mohammad and Ryan Thompson.
After travelling to Rothesay, N.B., this weekend for their season opener, the Vikings will host a six-team tournament on Nov. 20-21. Visiting teams will include Windsor, Colonel Gray from Charlottetown, Pugwash, North Colchester and Breton Education Centre of New Waterford.